UNB, New York :Expressing surprise over the issuance of travel alerts by some diplomatic missions in Dhaka for their citizens after the murder of an Italian national, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said there is no justification of issuing such travel alerts.”The US government didn’t announce red alert when two Bangladeshi nationals were killed in New York a few years ago. Other diplomatic missions also didn’t issue any such alert for their citizens. I don’t know why some diplomatic missions in Dhaka did this,” she said.The Prime Minister was speaking at a crowded press conference on Tuesday evening at Bangladesh Permanent Mission in New York. The press conference was arranged to inform the outcome of the Prime Minister’s visit to New York to attend the 70th UN General Assembly Session.”Haven’t I observed suspicious activities of a BNP leader after the murder of the Italian national? I think the clue of the murder would be found if the BNP leader is interrogated. I’ll take measures on my return home.”Asked about the alleged involvement of the Islamic State (ISIS) in the recent killing of the Italian citizen in Dhaka, the Prime Minister said there was information from Chicago claiming it to be the work of ISIS. But, according to her own intelligence reports, no one in Bangladesh has so far claimed any responsibility for the killing.Sheikh Hasina said, there is certainly a strong force behind the killing. “So they want to create a situation. Terrorism and militancy not only happening in Bangladesh, it’s a global phenomenon.”The Prime Minister said Bangladesh believes in peace, certainly not in militancy. “We don’t want emergence of militants in Bangladesh. We’ re really very shocked at the killing of a foreign national. It’s a pathetic incident.”About the cancellation of the upcoming tour of the Australian cricket team to Bangladesh, the Prime Minister said she does not know what prompted the Australians to cancel the tour. “We had several international cricket matches in recent months and all took place without any incident.”Regarding the demand by Awami Ulema League to establish Shariah-based legal system, the Prime Minister said the Bangladesh constitution guarantees equal rights of worship to people of all religions.Without mentioning secular bloggers by name, Hasina said if people prefer not to believe in any particular religion, it is entirely up to them. “But, hurting other people’s religious sentiment cannot be tolerated,” she asserted.
